Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-04-07

new trial was needed to fit him for the place
which God had ready for him, as well as to
introduce him to it The wife of his master
tempted him to sin Unlike Reuben and
Judah, who fell into such disgraceful lusts,
he repelled the temptation, refusing to wrong
his master and to sin against God (Gen.
xxx, 81.
Through false accusation he was thrown
into prison Tvs. 19, 90, and for long years suf
fered on account OF his virtue. There he
manifested the same capacity for leadership
as in Potiphar's house. He was made super
intendent of the prisoners Tvs %, 29. Among
them were two officers of Pharaoh, one his
chief butler, the other his chief baker.
Through Gods help he interpreted the dreams
which had occasioned each much disquietude.
In accordance with his Interpretation, on Pha-
raoh's birthday the baker was hanged, while
the butler was restored to his place. The but
ler did not leave his prison until Joseph had
made him q confidant. and assured him of
his innocence, and begged him to intercede
for him with Pharaoh Gen. Il, IA, 15j. But
that ungrateful official forgot him for two
years God, however, did not forget him
In his plan Joseph was simply biding his
time
In the chapter from which our lesson Is
taken we find Pharaoh, in his dream, at the
bank of the Nile Gen. XII, y. Nothing Is moro
true to life in any literature than the entire
history Of Joseph, which betrays, as the most
eminent Egyptologists have shown, a won
derful familiarity with the manners and Gus
toms Of Egypt at the time indicated. In
deed, objections which were once raised to
certain statements in the story Of Joseph by
distinguished scholars Of former generation
Won Bohlen and Tuch) have been found to
be entirely without foundation.
The Pharaoh mentioned here was un-
doubtedly one of the Hyksos, or shepherd
kings, and he Is believed by leading Egyptian
scholars in accordance with ancient testi-
monies Syncellus) and modern investigations,
to have been Apepi (Aphophis), the last of
the shepherd kings.
The scene described in the dream has a
truly Egyptian color. Since Egypt was the
creature of the Nile. which received divine
honors, and the various changes in the river
were regarded with the utmost anxiety, it
was in keeping that the king should be there.
In his dream he sees seven sleek kline feeding
in the reed grass Revised Version, which are
presently devoured By seven poor kline, which
are afterward as lean as ever. He awakes
but soon dreams again. This time he sees
seven plump ears growing on one stalk.
These however, are devoured by seven blasted
ears The king on awakening from his sleep
summons his sacred scribes Revised Version,
but they cannot explain his dreama 1t is
then that Gods time comes. The chief butler
remembers Joseph and mentions him to Pha-
raoh. All the things which seemed to be
against Joseph, under Gods overruling provi-
dencs had simply been steps preparatory to
that hour. After making his toilet precisely
according to the demands of Egyptian eti-
quetts he appears before the king, and
under Gods guidance explains Pharaoh's
two dreams as one, and that their
purport Is that Egypt Is to be visited
with plenty for seven years, and then
with seven years Of famine. Such an event
was very rare, but it occurred as late as 1854
to 1071 A. D. And there was long period
of famine under Apepi, the Pharaoh before
vhom Joseph has been supposed by some at
that time to have stood Joseph not only
told the king what was to come to pass, but
also suggested an admirable plan for storing
up . supply of food during the years of
plenty ". $3.50.
THE LESSON.
God the Source Of Joseph's Wisdom Tvs. Ss,
S9.-Neither in Joseph's Interpretation Of the
buffers and bakers dreams nor in his inter
them known through his own wisdom. He
rather ascribes all his knowledge to God.
Although Pharaoh doubtless did not know
the true God, yet like other heathens he was
familiar with the idea that God is the source
of wisdom He therefore asks his servants
whether they can find such q man In whom
the spirit Of God is, and without waiting for
an answer he says to Joseph that, since God
has given him the Interpretation Of the
dreams, and the best plan for providing
against the years Of famine, there is none
$50 discreet and wise as thou"
The same thing, however, Is true of others
as well az of Joseph The man who is
born again though the Spirit is not only
wiser in the things Of the kingdom, but also
in the things of this world Ps. cxi, 10; Prov
iii, 1-6) besides having at least an implied
promise Of wisdom for special needs James
i, s.. The men who can serve the nation
best in the times of its sorest distress are
neither atheists nor infdels, but those who
reverently acknowledge their dependence on
divine guidance.
The Egyptian scribes, who were learned in
all their sacred books, and Joseph, are good
examples of the difference between mere
human learning and that wisdom which God
gives his servants in times of need
Y. 40. The people Of Egypt in being ruled
by Joseph were thus to be under divine direc-
ton. Joseph received almost absolute power.
With Oriental exaggsration Pharaoh says the
people shall not even kiss Hebrew without
him. He claims simply the throne as his
special prerogative.
Joseph's Investit1re Tvs. 4144-Pharaoh
then invests Joseph with his new Office. These
verses describe as it were the ceremony of his
n. e. A1,.Af =.
set him over all the land Of Egypt He then
takes his signet ring from his hand and puts
it on Joseph's, thus conveying to him power
to secure the execution Of his commands
compare Kings xxi, 81, for no one would
dare to disobey an order which bore the i'm
press of the kings signet Esther viii, 81. He
next arrays him in robes of Office made Of fine
linen, of the same texture doubtless as the
priests wore, and put gold chain about his
neck. Afterward he causes him 10 ride in
the second royal chariot, and commands proc
lamation to be made before him, "Bow the
knee" Thus he makes him ruler over all
Egypt, and when the ceremony is complete,
again assures him of his absolute power.
Joseph's Virtue Rewarded ". 45D.-Natur-
ally enough he gives him an Egyptian name,
ZaphepAth-paneahf ex-governor of the district
of the place of life" Brugsch), and then be-
slows on him a lady OF little less than royal
rank, Asensth, the daughter Of Potipherah,
priest Of On. Had Joseph yielded to the
Of Potiphar's wife, the history Of
which we now read and this honorable mar
riage would have been impossible. Thousands
barter honor, success and happiness for dis
grace, failure and misery, because they have
not learned to say in the face Of some seduc-
tive temptation, "How, then, can l do this
great wickedness and sin against GodP
No Short Cut to Success ". 46l.-Joseph
came into Pharaoh's presence a poor Hebrew
prisoner and slave. He went out the auto
crat of Egypt Pharaoh was but an instru-
ment in Gods hands, who had given him all
this power Joseph had been Is years
In Gods school A boy of IL he left his
fathers home His success came only
through the severest discipline continued
through long years of trial. He did not re
ceive power and was not established in life
until he had reached mature years. There is
in this fact an impressive lesson for
those who wish to take short and easy cut
In their preparation for positions OF honor
and usefulness. Young men make great
mistake who do not take time to secure q